Karl Opfermann (1891 - 1960) - photo 1

Karl Opfermann

Karl Opfermann, a German sculptor and graphic artist born in 1891 in Rødding (now Denmark), carved a niche for himself in the realms of art and culture. His initial training as an ornament creator led him to the influential circles of Hamburg and Berlin, where he honed his artistic skills under the guidance of Heinz Wedding, Fritz Heit, and Richard Luksch. Opfermann's artistic journey was deeply intertwined with notable groups like the "Hamburgische Sezession" and the "Novembergruppe" in Berlin, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the local sculptural landscape from 1919 to 1933.

Tragically, Karl Opfermann's works became a target during the "Entartete Kunst" (Degenerate Art) action in 1937 by the Nazis, leading to their removal and destruction from German museums. A significant portion of his oeuvre was further lost in a bombing in 1943, which destroyed his studio in Hamburg. Despite these challenges, Opfermann's legacy persists, with efforts to reconstruct his life and works focusing on the years before 1943, the period before the destruction wrought by the Nazis and World War II.

Karl Opfermann's artistic expression was rooted in German Expressionism, a movement born out of resistance and reaction, emphasizing emotion and individual experience. His works, spanning various mediums including wood, stone, and ceramics, reflect a profound emotional depth and a unique exploration of human form and expression.

For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Karl Opfermann's work offers a compelling glimpse into the turbulent yet artistically rich period of early 20th-century Germany. His sculptures and graphic art, held in various collections throughout Germany, including Hamburg and Flensburg, stand as a testament to his enduring impact on German Expressionism.

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Date and place of birt:28 september 1891, Røddinge, Denmark
Date and place of death:7 march 1960, Ahrensburg, Germany
Nationality:Germany, Denmark
Period of activity: XX century
Specialization:Artist, Ceramist, Portraitist, Sculptor, Wood carver
Art school / group:Hamburg Secession
Genre:Portrait sculpture, Portrait
Art style:Art Nouveau, Expressionism, German Expressionism
Technique:Wood carving
Medium:Ceramic, Clay, Wood, Stone

Creators Germany

Johann Wilhelm Lanz (1725 - 1764)
Johann Wilhelm Lanz
1725 - 1764
Gustav Oppel (1891 - 1978)
Gustav Oppel
1891 - 1978
Jorge Machold (1940 - 2015)
Jorge Machold
1940 - 2015
Johannes Pfeiffer (1954)
Johannes Pfeiffer
1954
Heinrich Franz Carl Billotte (1801 - 1892)
Heinrich Franz Carl Billotte
1801 - 1892
Harald Frackmann (1944)
Harald Frackmann
1944
Matthias Weischer (1973)
Matthias Weischer
1973
Christian Mischke (1944 - 2022)
Christian Mischke
1944 - 2022
Karl Duschek (1947 - 2011)
Karl Duschek
1947 - 2011
Johann Carl Schönheit (1730 - 1805)
Johann Carl Schönheit
1730 - 1805
Franz Wenzel Schwarz (1842 - 1919)
Franz Wenzel Schwarz
1842 - 1919
Jörg Danielczyk (1952)
Jörg Danielczyk
1952
Walter Bertelsmann (1877 - 1963)
Walter Bertelsmann
1877 - 1963
Herman Ployer (1863 - 1911)
Herman Ployer
1863 - 1911
Gustav Reinhold (1798 - 1849)
Gustav Reinhold
1798 - 1849
Karl Gatermann II (1909 - 1992)
Karl Gatermann II
1909 - 1992

Creators Art Nouveau

Antonio Maro (1928)
Antonio Maro
1928
Ingwer Paulsen (1883 - 1943)
Ingwer Paulsen
1883 - 1943
Michel Dousse (1929 - 2015)
Michel Dousse
1929 - 2015
Rockwell Kent (1882 - 1971)
Rockwell Kent
1882 - 1971
Giovanni Gariboldi (1908 - 1971)
Giovanni Gariboldi
1908 - 1971
Carlos Orozco Romero (1896 - 1984)
Carlos Orozco Romero
1896 - 1984
Franz Barwig I (1868 - 1931)
Franz Barwig I
1868 - 1931
Niles Spencer (1893 - 1952)
Niles Spencer
1893 - 1952
Miron Sima (1902 - 1999)
Miron Sima
1902 - 1999
John Randall Bratby (1928 - 1992)
John Randall Bratby
1928 - 1992
Armand Rassenfosse (1862 - 1934)
Armand Rassenfosse
1862 - 1934
Philipp Bauknech (1884 - 1933)
Philipp Bauknech
1884 - 1933
Natalia Sergeevna Goncharova (1881 - 1962)
Natalia Sergeevna Goncharova
1881 - 1962
Jan Toorop (1858 - 1928)
Jan Toorop
1858 - 1928
Enrico Della Torre (1931 - 2022)
Enrico Della Torre
1931 - 2022
Wilfried Reckewitz (1925 - 1991)
Wilfried Reckewitz
1925 - 1991
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